How to manage Dropbox Protect

Dropbox Protect is designed for security and IT admins to help secure company files and manage sharing across the following connected apps:

• Dropbox
• Microsoft 365 (OneDrive and SharePoint)
• Google Drive 

Admins will be able to identify potential risks, such as files shared with external users or files accessible through public links. From the Protect interface, admins can review item details, adjust permissions, or apply policies to help reduce risk.

What admins can do with Dropbox Protect

Admins can use Dropbox Protect to:

• Review file access
• Identify external sharing, broadly accessible links, and other risky permissions
• Adjust access or sharing settings to reduce exposure
• Apply policies that detect and respond to risky sharing patterns
• Track changes for auditing and oversight

How to access Dropbox Protect

If you have access to Dropbox Protect on its own or in addition to other products, you can get started with Dropbox Protect by logging in to your account at dropbox.com/protect/app.

How to use filters 

You can use filters to quickly find documents based on specific criteria, such as last modified date, file type, application, sharing status, and more. Preset filters make it easy to view common access level groupings, like files shared with personal accounts.

Learn more about how to use filters.

How to use Policies

You can use Policies to help protect your organization’s data by automatically finding and fixing potential risks. Policies scan your content every day and alert you to issues like open links, external sharing, or inactive accounts.

Learn how to use Policies in Dropbox Protect.

How to fix security risks

You can fix security risks in Protect by adding or removing collaborators, adding or removing links, deleting items, or stopping sharing.

Learn more about how you can fix security risks.

How to view item details

After clicking on an item, you can see the it’s sharing settings, collaborators, access levels, and metadata. 

Learn more about item details.

How to access the Reports page 

You can generate reports to view summaries of team files, folders, and shared drives. This lets you quickly identify files with risky access levels so you can take action where needed.

Learn how to view reports in Protect.

How to view the Action history page

The Action history section logs every remediation action performed on items in Protect. You can review which actions succeeded or failed and find necessary details. Additionally, the Action history page is where you can access your CSV exports.

Learn more about the Action history page.

How to export a CSV

You can export a CSV by clicking the items you want in your file and then the Export to CSV button.

To help ensure the items you export meet your criteria, you can use filters to narrow your search before making your selection. 

Learn more about exporting CSV files.